~July 2007 K-1 Filers~

[Ovaltine Jenkins 5]

Congratulations Susie

Hopefully the moody husband is in better mood today or he is gonna be in trouble!

I went to DMV to show them my new stamp that I have now, which shows I can legally be here for longer than 60 days or whatever and so it looks like they will finally print out my driver´s license They said they weren´t able to give me the DL when I passed the test cuz my K1 stamp was about to expire soon. But now they say I should receive the DL soon so I will finally be able to walk around without carrying the passport all the time

Was considering applying for AP and EAD maybe around December again since my current ones expire in summer next year and if it takes them as long as before to get me another one again... Because I am thinking my AOS file is sitting under the thickest pile of dust somewhere so noone wants to even touch it and I am not sure there is anything I can do about it

Hey Gretchen´s belly is pretty small. They tell me my belly is small which I think it´s not cuz to me it looks huge but Gretchen´s belly is like half size my size We went to do the hospital tour and it was really nice.

[Jeraly 4]

It's ok - we got to the bottom of it - after me saying he had been snippy for three days and that he wouldn't talk to me blah blah blah he finally realised that maybe it is because of his impending inspection at work... which is due to happen sometime before the end of next month. It's a real big deal to him and I think it got on top of him more than he realised. We had some tears and then we spent the night on the sofa watching Lost and drinking red wine - it was rather nice as I am feeling yucky at the moment (thank goodness for the sticky heat patches mum sent me!).

Now we have to go spend a small fortune getting Daisy her booster injection for Feline Leukemia...

[Ovaltine Jenkins 5]

What are sticky heat patches for?

So I was wondering how Aly´s mom has adjusted to living alone. Is she feeling better about it now?

[tucson_chick 0]

hi there!

how is everybody?

don't worry about the AOS sitting underneath the biggest pile! ours was one of the very last february-filer-packages to be processed. everybody already had their greencards since months, and we still didn't even have our interview notice.

but then, at once, the letter is there, and everything seems to be so stress-free and small.

ah, aly, I'm sorry that Jeremy is having a rough time!

I really want to win the lottery. things got so expensive, we somehow manage to barely live on our both incomes, the plan of having kids next year got postponed, we just can't afford it. breaks my heart.

[Jeraly 4]

What are sticky heat patches for?

So I was wondering how Aly´s mom has adjusted to living alone. Is she feeling better about it now?

Sticky heat patches are great for tummy cramps - kinda like a hot water bottle that lasts for hours I think mum is doing ok as well now - she's got more used to it, and like any adjustment, while things seem empty for a while, you soon find things to fill your time - she has been keeping really busy and I think she needs a break tbh!!!

hi there!

how is everybody?

don't worry about the AOS sitting underneath the biggest pile! ours was one of the very last february-filer-packages to be processed. everybody already had their greencards since months, and we still didn't even have our interview notice.

but then, at once, the letter is there, and everything seems to be so stress-free and small.

ah, aly, I'm sorry that Jeremy is having a rough time!

I really want to win the lottery. things got so expensive, we somehow manage to barely live on our both incomes, the plan of having kids next year got postponed, we just can't afford it. breaks my heart.

Agnes - I totally understand where you are coming from... everything seems to cost so much at the moment and with me not working it is even harder. If you move back East like you planned though to a different State, mightn't things be a bit cheaper? I know that some States further east are a lot cheaper in terms of cost of living so maybe there is still hope I think it is always difficult to plan children as well - I don't think we will ever be able to afford them but we'll have them anyway because we'll find ways to work around it Not for a little while though yet

How have you been anyway? I take it you won't be able to make it to our Hallowe'en party? Maven is coming which is cool but we'll miss you and Eric!!! Maybe New Year's Eve you'll be able to make it

[Ovaltine Jenkins 5]

Yeah lotsa things are expensive but at the same time lotsa things are much cheaper than in Europe. And I think UK is a very expensive country. One of the biggest advantages in Europe is the health care though cuz in USA it is such a crappy expensive system. What do u guys seem to spend too much money on these days? For us it´s definately the health care right now

[rae_and_scott 1]

Hello everyone. Gosh, I don't even remember when I posted last, I've been *so* busy.

Aly, I was thinking maybe Jeremy was pregnant, but I'm glad to hear it's just work-related.

Marta, I agree, health care is a huge, huge cost here. Or it can be, depending on if you can get benefits through work and even then you never know what will come out of your pocket. Prior to Scott getting hired a month ago, I was paying over $600 a month for benefits (that sucked, because the copays were so high I didn't ever want to go to the doctor). Now we have better coverage for half the cost. But we decided not to do dental, as we both just went to the dentist on my old plan, and figured we could wait till we're back in Canada next year to go again... Now I've got this pain and weird little spot on my gum above a tooth and am worried... Dangit. But I find our biggest cost, living here in NYC, is rent. Which reminds me... Susie, is this the week you're here? If so, I hope you are having a fabulous time.

Last weekend Scott and I went to Montreal to scope out wedding venues. It was, unfortunately, an extremely stressful trip, as his parents have an opinion on every little thing that they want us to do for our wedding. I firmly believe it is MY DAY (okay, our day), but I still have to deal with his mom, and it's just not easy.

But, on the up side, we found the place we want to book and I'm just waiting on getting a contract & signing it. Looks like we're going to get fake-hitched on February 21, 2009. Once that's written in stone, I can start focusing on lots of other details, and I like planning things, so I'm having fun.

[Jeraly 4]

Our expense is food - Jeremy could happily live on ramen but I like fresh fruit and veg - we're still getting used to how much to buy as well so we probably spend too much on that. Bills are pricey too - our electricity is $100 a month as is our cable/internet bill... I swear we could get cheaper but Jeremy organised it before I got here so...

[BabyBlueSusie 1]

Our expense is food - Jeremy could happily live on ramen but I like fresh fruit and veg - we're still getting used to how much to buy as well so we probably spend too much on that. Bills are pricey too - our electricity is $100 a month as is our cable/internet bill... I swear we could get cheaper but Jeremy organised it before I got here so...

wow, $100 for electric! that's a lot...we pay $50. and yea, the cable/internet thing could be cheaper, but you have to search out or wait for the deals. we got ours for 33 a piece, so thats 66 a month...not bad in my opinion...and yes, we spend A LOT on food too, way too much.

[BabyBlueSusie 1]

Hello everyone. Gosh, I don't even remember when I posted last, I've been *so* busy.

Aly, I was thinking maybe Jeremy was pregnant, but I'm glad to hear it's just work-related.

Marta, I agree, health care is a huge, huge cost here. Or it can be, depending on if you can get benefits through work and even then you never know what will come out of your pocket. Prior to Scott getting hired a month ago, I was paying over $600 a month for benefits (that sucked, because the copays were so high I didn't ever want to go to the doctor). Now we have better coverage for half the cost. But we decided not to do dental, as we both just went to the dentist on my old plan, and figured we could wait till we're back in Canada next year to go again... Now I've got this pain and weird little spot on my gum above a tooth and am worried... Dangit. But I find our biggest cost, living here in NYC, is rent. Which reminds me... Susie, is this the week you're here? If so, I hope you are having a fabulous time.

Last weekend Scott and I went to Montreal to scope out wedding venues. It was, unfortunately, an extremely stressful trip, as his parents have an opinion on every little thing that they want us to do for our wedding. I firmly believe it is MY DAY (okay, our day), but I still have to deal with his mom, and it's just not easy.

But, on the up side, we found the place we want to book and I'm just waiting on getting a contract & signing it. Looks like we're going to get fake-hitched on February 21, 2009. Once that's written in stone, I can start focusing on lots of other details, and I like planning things, so I'm having fun.

YES I AM HERE!! So great to be back. I arrived home to a wide assortment of delicious cold cuts from the italian deli near my mom's house. Mmm Delish. =] There's no way I could find these things in Indiana.

Oh and yes, I can definitely relate to your gripe with the rent here. I am so glad I am not paying that anymore...but I miss it SO much! I am staying at my mom's house in Bensonhurst, but I plan on going back to the neighborhood (boerum hill/park slope/carroll gardens) VERY SOON. =]

[BabyBlueSusie 1]

Congratulations Susie

Hopefully the moody husband is in better mood today or he is gonna be in trouble!

Haha yes he was for about 5 minutes. Haha just kidding. He is much happier now that he is in NY, even though we miss eachother a lot (except for right now bc we are together in NY as I speak). He is glad that he can go out with his friends here once in a while, and he gets excited when he hears other Albanians speaking on the train or walking in the street. There really are a TON of them in my mom's neighborhood, and I never noticed before. I think I assumed they were Russian, weird.

[Jeraly 4]

It's the AC that kills us as it is too hot most days to open the windows!! We leave it off as often as we can though but it hit 96 again today so the AC is back on.... AND that is with a discount because of all the wind turbines in the area

As for cable/internet - we're with Time Warner and the deal was cable/internet/phone but the phone is cr@p and we don't use it as we use vonage to call the UK and everyone here in the US. Thing is, the deal without the phone cost just as much anyway so... it's a bit silly really

[tucson_chick 0]

I'm so sorry we won't be able to make it to the party!

Eric is working crazy hours A LOT and already told me to not bother him with ANYTHING for the next 2 weeks. :/

plus our medical bills with blow up the budget for the next 3 months in advance. i feel lost!!!!!!

Other than that I'm doing fine. I decided to start looking for jobs. I want and need to make more money.

Our biggest expense is rent, followed by food and dental bills. Rent here is ridiculous, we could live cheaper, but then you need a gun to get the mail at night. And the Exterminator every 4 weeks.

All utilities are included in our rent, so it isn't THAT bad, but still bad enough *sigh*

I'll get the mail (without gun) now and bring out the trash.

Happy Tuesday to everybody!

[a-jeanne 2]

Hello everyone. Sorry to have been away so long. I have been trying to catch up - not happening! There has been so much going on with all of you.

I hope that everyone is adjusting well. I'm happy to hear how the adjustment period is going. Better? Worse? What do you think of us Americans? How about the state of this economy?

[Jeraly 4]

I'm so sorry we won't be able to make it to the party!

Eric is working crazy hours A LOT and already told me to not bother him with ANYTHING for the next 2 weeks. :/

plus our medical bills with blow up the budget for the next 3 months in advance. i feel lost!!!!!!

Awww - well maybe you can make New Year's Eve if you are back from Germany? We'll miss you!!! We're thinking of taking some time to go on a short road trip before I get a job - probably at the beginning of next month so we might end up heading out your way Either that or we'll head up to Northern Cali or NV maybe...

Hello everyone. Sorry to have been away so long. I have been trying to catch up - not happening! There has been so much going on with all of you.

I hope that everyone is adjusting well. I'm happy to hear how the adjustment period is going. Better? Worse? What do you think of us Americans? How about the state of this economy?

AUDREY!!! How have you been?! Settling in ok here - it's been tough but it's getting a little easier. Still waiting on my EAD so have lots of time to kill. Have put on a bunch of weight and really need to lose it but otherwise all is well!!!